A/N: First, DreamCreater yes it was all a dream. That's the first part of Season 3 Episode 4 "Slumber". I just changed the dream to be Clex and Chlana. Second, for everyone, this chapter is longer than the others. It's where a lot of information comes out before the main action. I wanted to keep all of that stuff together in one chapter.

Dedication: This accuracy of many little things is brought to you by The Reel Lifer who was awesome enough to help me with research even though she's not familiar with "Smallville". Thanks for everything G.

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, dialogue, and plots recognizable from the show "Smallville" are not mine. I own Claire, but I borrow everything else.

Chapter 7 [for now]

His eyes flew open and he sat up staring around at his parents' living room. Clark turned at the sound of footsteps. His Mom and Dad rushed over when they saw he was awake.

"Clark! Thank God, we've been so worried."

"What happened? Where's Claire?"

His mother sat down on the couch beside him. "You fell asleep studying for your history exam. She's fine, Lex offered to watch her until you woke up."

Jonathan sat on the sturdy coffee-table. "That was a day and a half ago, son. We've all been trying to wake you ever since."

"So they're both ok?" His voice was still panicked.

Martha ran a hand through his hair. "They're fine. You must have been dreaming."

"It was so real." Clark stared down at his hands half expecting them to be covered in gore. "Everything was different at school. Lex was watching Claire for you, Mom. I went to the mansion and found him stabbed. I met this girl, Sara Conroy, and she was in trouble."

"Conroy? That's the name of our new next-door neighbor." Jonathan looked at his wife. "He has a teenaged daughter."

"They moved into Lana's old house?" Clark turned in that general direction.

"There's been a moving truck there since yesterday." Martha confirmed.

"How could I dream about someone I've never even met?" His parents looked at each other unsure how to answer.

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Clark sat on the steps of the porch blinking tiredly when he heard the screen door open. "Wow, someone's sure up early." His father commented coming down. Clark looked up at him. "Son, have you been awake all night?"

"I was kind of afraid to go to sleep." He confessed getting to his feet.

Martha came out onto the porch. "That was Lex. He's going to bring Claire by on his way in to Metropolis."

Clark nodded. "It will be good to see them. That dream was so real; if I see them it will be easier to believe they're ok." He shook his head. "I feel like I still have to go check on the Conroys."

Martha pursed her lips. "What would you say to them? That Sara was in danger in your dreams?"

Jonathan weighed his opinion. "You need to be careful, Clark."

"Yeah, I need to be careful when I'm sleeping too."

"You weren't just asleep son. You were out for thirty-six hours which so happens to coincide with that girl moving in next door."

"You think she's keeping me asleep?"

"I don't know Clark, but with all the weird things happening around here, you need to be careful. So look, I'm asking you, stay away from the neighbors." Jonathan walked past to get to his work.

It didn't take long for the sound of a purring engine to grow, and Lex actually signaled before he turned into the driveway. Clark yawned as he hurried over to the car. Lex got out with a smile and met him.

"Now I've heard of beauty sleep, but this is ridiculous, Clark."

Clark pulled his friend into a hug. "It's good to see you too, Lex."

"I was going to call you Rip Van Kent, but with recent events that seemed in poor taste."

"Do you want to stay for a while?" I'd feel better keeping him close until this dream business is taken care of.

"Sorry, I can't stay longer." Lex pulled back going over to the passenger side. He reached inside and unfastened buckles like a pro. "Hey, Claire Bear, look who's finally awake." He lifted her squirming form into his arms. Lex winced as her foot connected with his ribs.

"Here, let me take her." Clark held out his arms. "She can't bruise me."

Lex passed her; his hand lingered a moment on Clark's arm. "Be that as it may; I hate to dump her on you and run, but I have to get some business handled, and I don't want her anywhere near my father."

A wide grin spread over Clark's face as he looked from his best friend to the baby—their baby. "Yeah, I understand, and you're not dumping her. We all missed our Claire Bear."

Lex took a step closer, and his hand lifted as if to touch Clark's face, but he let it drop to his shoulder instead. "You still look exhausted, Clark. You sure you're ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You better get going. I don't want to make you late."

"I'd rather be late and know you're ok than be on time and worry." Lex slowly pulled his hand away before closing the passenger door, and walked around to his side of the car.

"Lex?" Clark called as his friend made to enter the silver Porsche. "Be careful, ok?"

Lex smirked. "I always am, Clark." He got into the car speeding away in his usual racing style driving. At least he's careful when Claire's in the car.

Clark smiled down at the little eatures; dark red whsips, pale peachy cheeks, and green eyes. "Now let's go find your Grandma."

"I heard that, Clark Kent." Martha held out her arms. "Hey baby girl. Oh, I think you've grown a bit." She looked up at her son. "Fell better now you've seen they're alright?"

Clark nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, it was hard not being able to save anyone."

"Well, they're both fine. Try not to worry about it too much." She wrapped her free arm around him then returned to the house.

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Clark heard footsteps and looked up from the hay bails he carried. Lana came toward him, and he could see Chloe's empty car at the end of the drive. Was my subconscious trying to tell me something about them?

"We missed you at school the last couple of days."

"I haven't been feeling well." He lied quickly.

"To be honest you look a little tired. Has the baby been keeping you up at night? Maybe you should get some sleep during the day."

"No!" His eyes widened in alarm. After a pause he added. "Sorry, I'll be fine."

"M'kay," she smiled worriedly at him. "Well I brought you your homework. Mr. Blair said you can make up your history exam as long as you have a note from your parents."

"You're the best!" I can hear it now "We're sorry Mr. Blair, but Clark fell asleep, and didn't wake up for two days." That would be just great. Clark looked up from the papers in his hands. "Can I tell you something?"

"Sure," she waited.

"I've been having this dream, and it's really freaking me out." They walked together.

"What was it about?"

"It's about… a lot of things." Like you vanishing leaving me and Lex skinny dipping in Crater Lake. Then everyone acting like we've been together forever, and you and Chloe being together, and Lex dying. "There's this girl."

Lana looks up, "Oh."

"No, Lana it's not like that. She needed help."

Lana smiled. "Let me guess, you had to save her."

"Except I couldn't, and her name's Sara and she moved into your old house." He pointed in that direction.

"When did you meet her?"

"That's the thing—I haven't." Clark turns to face Lana. "How could I be dreaming about her?"

"Maybe if you walk me though the dream we could figure it out together."

Oh, just great. "You don't think I'm nuts?"

"Clark, you may have a lot of issues, but I do not think you've lost your mind. Ok so where did you see her first?"

Easy question, "Crater Lake, you were there, and then Lex was."

Lana's brows furrow. "Really? What were we doing?"

"Nothing!" That's what you get for volunteering information Kent! "Um, it's really hazy."

Lana nods. "Ok, well I have a better idea." She tucked her brunette strands behind her ear. "Why don't we go see Sara in person?" Clark smiled gratefully as they walked toward Lana's old house.

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Mr. Conroy led them into Lana's old room. The girl from Clark's dream lay in a twin bed as if sleeping. The man walked over placing a hand on her head. Clark stepped forward.

"Wow, she seamed so…" He trailed off. "Do the doctors think she'll come out of it?"

The man sighed. "Well, there's always hope."

Lana moved in closer. "It must be really hard to see your daughter like this."

"Uh, Sara's my niece." He smiled at Lana. "So, this is your old house, Lana?" She nodded and let a grin spread over her face. "And you're the boy from next door?"

"What exactly happened?" Clark was unsmiling.

"Clark!" Lana gasped at his tone.

"It's ok. It's no secret. It was a car accident. Sara and her parents went off the Low Bridge on their way home from a soccer game. Paramedics say Sara was asleep which is probably why she survived."

Lana asked. "Sara's from Smallville?"

"No, Grandville just over the county line."

Clark looked passed Mr. Conroy. He saw a picture in a white frame, above that was a vase of lilacs. "Lilacs—those are Sara's favorites."

The man looked from the flowers back to Clark. "Yes, how did you know that?"

Lana covered with a bright smile. "They're my favorite too—it must be kismet—living in the same house."

The man flashed a smile of his own and stepped back to the bed leaning over his niece. The motion revealed a chain with a medallion around his neck.

"That's an interesting medal." Clark commented.

He straightened and gripped the shiny circle. "This? It's just good old St. Christopher."

Clark nodded. "The patron saint of travelers right?"

"Yes. Yes, I say his prayer every night in the hopes that Sara's journey will end, and she'll come back to us." After a pause he checked his watch and rubbed his hands together. "I'm sorry but you'll have to excuse me. It's time for Sara's medication." He walked over to a white cabinet. "Thank you for stopping by." The two teens walked away to the sound of him unlocking the small door.

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The flashing red letters remained on Lex's screen for the twenty-fourth time. He'd been trying several ways to access his father's files from the lab. He could view notes an video on failed cloning attempts, the incompatible introduction of his father's DNA, and the eventual success when his own genes were used. Nothing after those first signs of cell division was open to him. He promised me full disclosure! What else is he hiding? How long did it take for Claire to be born? I was only gone three months.

Lex strode out of his office and down the hall. He ignored the bustle of their staff around the shared reception desk on this floor and stalked toward his father's office on the other side. The automatic doors to his father's office swung open to reveal Lionel on a massage table. A dark haired woman was working on Lionel's oiled back, and his mane obscured his face.

"Dad, I thought I made it clear I'm back, and fully committed to LuthorCourp and to you."

"And I'm delighted…" The misuse shifted to use her elbow. "Ohaw… to hear it." Lionel turned his head still covered by a web of dark tresses. "Now, what's the problem?"

"I've been blocked out of half the computer files I need to do my job, and research I was promised full disclosure—insufficient security clearance?"

"Thank you Millie." The older Luthor sat up with a sigh, tossed his hair back, and scrubbed his face with the towel that covered him. "These… uh… security measures, Lex are a necessary evil." Millie held out a white robe for him to put his arms though. "You should know that. We have to protect our assets."

Lex raised his eyebrows. "From me?"

"I applaud your renewed commitment to LuthorCourp." He walked over to a seating area with leather couches and a glass coffee table. "After what you've been though it's remarkable."

"But you think I might betray you again." Lex let a frustrated breath push out his nose.

Lionel reached down into a bowl of fruit and grabbed a peach. "Betray me? That's an interesting notion." He filled his mouth with the first bite of drippy flesh. "Might you?"

Lex joined his father on the expensive leather seat. "I want this to work. If nothing else we have an agreement which I'm upholding. You have nothing to fear from me."

Lionel continued to munch. "Why have you refused to complete the psychological profile?"

Lex glanced down at his hands. "Come on Dad. You never believed in that psychobabble and neither do I." What does this have to do with security access?

"I believe that personal—emotional problems—are bound to affect day to day decision making. I think that dreams can often reveal hidden dangers, and serve as a warning."

Lex cut into his father's speech. "Spare me the Jungian Cliff-Notes Dad." He studied his father's relaxed pose. He thinks he has the power right now.

"It's five sessions Lex that's all. I thought you wanted to reestablish our working relationship—to be my successor."

The younger Luthor lowered his voice to a reassuring tone. "I do."

"Then do it. Prove—that my total confidence in you—is justified." In a final show of parental solidarity he patted Lex shoulder before going to the executive bathroom to shower and dress.

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It was a passing period at Smallville High and Clark finished with his locker. Chloe grinned up at him as he closed the bright metal door. She turned to Lana.

"Clark Kent—dreaming of the girl next door—isn't it nice to know some things never change?"

"I'm glad some things do." Lana whispered. She squeezed Chloe's hand.

He shook his head at both of them. I don't really care what's going on with them at this point. One of them is bound to tell me sooner or later. "Right now I'm just trying to stay awake."

"Yeah, even red bull has its limits." Chloe led their way down the hall. "Trust me, I've tested them."

"I think Sara is reaching out to me for help." Clark followed the two girls in a daze of fatigue.

Lana glanced back at him. "Entering your dreams to communicate?"

He blinked to focus on her. "How else would I know these details of her life? You remember the lilacs."

Chloe half turned to talk to him. "There is a theory that telepathic receptivity is increased during REM sleep." The group reached the Torch office, and Chloe picked up a file. "It has to do with frontal lobe activity."

"My frontal lobe is acting as a beacon."

Lana patted Clark's arm sympathetically. "What do you think Chlo?"

"Well I've never heard of case this dramatic, but we all know Clark's brain is wired a little differently than the rest of ours. Add the fact that the river where she crashed is a known source for our favorite green stuff—"

Lana picked up where Chloe left off. "Sounds like a recipe for a Smallville special with an extra shot of weird." The other two looked at her. "Oh, come on! I don't put meteor rock in the drinks."

Clark grinned then looked from one girl to the other. "You two think the meteor rocks gave her this ability?"

Chloe answered. "Once she's in she can keep you asleep. That certainly explains the day and a half snore-a-thon."

Lana added, "with at least three people trying to wake you and a baby in the house."

"I guess you're right. I didn't wake up until the Traveler appeared. I think it's her uncle." He looked at Lana for confirmation.

"I don't know Clark. He seems to be taking care of her." A line of concentration appeared on her forehead. "It's not impossible though."

"Or it's a manifestation of fear she has for him—whether he's doing anything wrong or not." Chloe amended. They both looked at her. "Sorry, didn't mean to get all Freudian on you."

Clark nodded. "No, her uncle is all powerful in her life. Why wouldn't he be in her dreams?"

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "You're still not buying the altruism angle?"

Clark sighed. "My faith in human kindness is not what it used to be. Is either of you up to a trip to the courthouse to see what public records can tell us about Uncle Nicolas?"

Chloe shook her head. "Can't, I have a deadline for the Daily Planet and shockingly a Wall of Weird story doesn't take precedence in their minds." She walked around the desk to be closer to the other two.

Clark muttered. "No more time for childish pursuits."

"Clark, that's not fair to Chloe." Lana interrupted.

Chloe's peppy sarcasm kicked into gear. "Yeah, if I had a choice I'd definitely be down there pulling dusty records with you."

"I doubt that." Clark grinned.

"Clark, let her do her job. I'll go with you." She gave him a shove toward the hall. Clark headed that way without complaint.

"He's going to need the constant source of caffeine only Lana Lang can provide." Chloe briefly kissed Lana's cheek when she thought Clark wasn't looking. "Have fun."

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Later that night Lana and Clark sat in his loft going though stacks of paper. Crickets chirruped outside, and the smell of coffee was strong in the hot air. Lana picked up yet another paper and blinked to focus her eyes on the page.

"Now I know why public records are public. They're incredibly boring."

"Not all of them." Clark offered her a page. "Take a look at this."

"Wow." Lana continued to read. "Sara's parents were rich." The shock was clear in her tired voice.

Clark nodded. "When they died she inherited everything. One guess who's controlling the money."

Lana didn't need to look. "Uncle Nicolas is."

Clark came around the couch to sit next to her. "As long as she stays in a coma he controls the wealth."

Lana frowned. "He still hasn't done anything wrong. I mean taking care of your niece, and having a nice life, isn't exactly a smoking gun." Clark had to remind himself that she couldn't help but see the good in people. Sometimes I think we're too much alike.

Clark stared down at the paper. "Then why is Sara so scarred of him? I just don't get it."

Lana's voice was gentle. "Hey, you're tired."

"I'm afraid to close my eyes." He confessed.

Lana smiled. "I'll go put on another pot of coffee." She got up and headed down the steps.

Clark listened to her go. His eyelids drooped and he couldn't focus. He put his head in his hands with a sigh and lent back on the couch for a second. The sound of footsteps made him look up again.

"That was fast." The familiar figure came into view. "Sara."

"Hi."

He turned to face her from where he sat on the couch. "I must have fallen asleep." She nodded. "How do you get into my dreams?"

"I don't know Clark." She stopped at the top of the steps. "This has never happened to me before. I can just see… the other day… I was—I was in the woods, and then at school, and then at your house." She pointed with her hand at him. "I realized what happened when you and Lana came to see me."

"You can hear us?" He got up to go stand closer to her.

"Yeah—it's like—being in a long dark tunnel. I mean sometimes its open, but sometimes its not. I tried to reach out to you. I mean you don't know what it's like to be trapped inside your own body—never any contact."

Clark interrupted with a gentle tone. "Sara, who's the Traveler?"

She started to back away down the steps. "Oh, we shouldn't talk about him. He'll find us."

"Is it your uncle?" Clark followed at a steady pace. "Why are you so afraid of him? What does he do to you?"

"I don't know." She took a deep breath. "I used to hear the doctors talking, and they said I should have woken up, but every time I do feel just a little bit better he…" She shook her head. "He does something, and I get sent back into a deep dark place inside the bottom of the ocean." She gasped again. "I almost woke up once, and that's when he moved us here."

The unexplained wind whipped up, and on that breeze they could hear the faintest voice say her name.

"He's here." She fell back over the handrail and Clark went to the edge. All he could do was watch as she reached for him, and fell into the embrace of the red-cloaked figure. The cloak was the last to vanish with a minor flash of light.

A/N: I notice I end chapters where there's a commercial break. I guess it shouldn't surprise me because they divide the episode regularly. Sorry again about not having the "Extinction" chapters right now. Next chapter is going to have some major changes in how things get resolved. Please review.